4: Spiritual Prep

Physical preparation can be completed the week or so before travelling, however the spiritual preparation and education should begin as soon as possible, even for the smallest of children.

Najaf

There are various manuals you can use to educate yourself and your children on where you will be going, one I suggest, is http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/, there are maps, general information and also pictures.
There is also, http://www.ziaraat.org/index.htm.  I also had some biographical books on the Imams and companions that I read and had my children read.
 I copied pages from my Mafati in Arabic and English, but if you can find one comprehensive Ziarat book that is better. Def. have a copy of Ziarat Ashura with you.
I would also suggest watching Sayed Ammar Nakshawani's Biographies on the Imams on YouTube. Below is the Biography of Imam Ali (as), there are videos on all 14 masoomeen. You can focus on the Imams you will be visiting or even better watch all 14 as, of course, they are all related to one another.

Your group should also send you information on how to prepare for Ziyarat and the benefits. http://www.ziaraat.org/articles/etiq.pdf- Good PDF file on importance of Ziyarat.  And also
http://www.asserattours.com/ebooks/Iraaq_eng%20(Final)%20Big.pdf
I found that reading the importance of this journey and reminding them of the magnitude of the personalities we were visiting really had an impact on my older kids.

Also began watching the Mukthar Nama series, as you will be doing his ziyarat in Iraq as well. It is a total of 40 series, one hour each, so make sure you start a month ahead of your travels. Above video is episode 1.
There are also movies on some of the Imams, although not as produced as well.

1: Intention

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates, 'Allah has appointed some angels at Imam Husain's grave. When a Shia makes the intention for Imam Husain's (a.s.) Ziarat, Allah forgives all his sins. When he takes a step to go for Ziarat, he erases his sins. His virtues multiply and they increase till the time he becomes worthy of Paradise’. 

(Wasailul Mohibbeen, pg. 280)

Our new year begins without the fireworks and celebration but with the same reflection of months past and resolutions for the coming ones.  Moharram 2011/2012 was a pivotal month for me, Allah(swt) opened my heart and eyes this year, opened my eyes to my wasteful and material lifestyle, made it clearer to me about the dangers of this world and false notions of what's important.  With each string I was breaking that held me to this world I felt I was being pulled closer to the calling of my Imams. With each description of pilgrims, that Sayed Ammar Nakshawani narrated, who flock to our beloved Imams and weep in their presence humbly rubbing their cheeks against the bars that keep them apart, I felt an increasing desire I hadn't really felt before other than when I was summoned on hajj in 2006. Its an insatiable voice, it stops at nothing, it has a mind of its own and will not be silenced until it is aim is met.  And that is when my Ziyarat began.

Initially, I was selfish, I only thought of myself going, to fulfill that burning desire I had inside, however, my kids would have none of it. I have a 13 yr old, a 9 yr. old, 4 yr. old, and a 3 yr old. Yes, a mother of 4. Of course, I had no intention whatsoever of taking my younger 2 because that would mean less ibadat for me, less focus, less time, less independence. I couldn't even imagine them coming with me. My initial vision was being completely lost in devotion in the very threshold of ahle Muhammad. That of course was not the case...